Improvement in vehicle-axle skeins



O. A. POLAND, Vehicle-Axle Skein.

No. 207,677. Patented Sept. 3. 1878" 1x15219586}? lnverzfvr:

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CHARLES A. POLAND,

FFICE.

OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN VEHICLE-AXLE SKEINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,677, datedSeptember 3, 1878; application filed August 17, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. POLAND, of Columbus, in the county ofFranklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Skeins for Wagon- Axles; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, whichwill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention is an improvement upon the wagon-axle skeins of GottliebSchreyer, as described in Letters Patent No. 89,602, granted to him May4, 1869, and in reissued Letters Patent No. 3,709, granted to himNovember 2, 1869.

The said invention consists, mainly, in providin g the end of the skeinproper with a hollow ferrule inserted within the same as a re-enforce,said ferrule being screw-threaded externally to receive a nut, andadapted to allow the access of air through its open end to the wood ofthe axle-journal for the prevention of dry-rot.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimproved skein with the nut removed. Fig. 2 represents in detail theferrule which receives the nut, and Fig. 3 represents a longitudinalsection of the skein with ferrule in place.

A designates the body of an ordinary wagon-axle skein, which is out offshort at a, at the place where it is usually cut away in part, to form ashoulder at the beginning of the screw-threaded extension which receivesthe nut. This partial cutting away ordinarily weakens theskein at thispoint, and the screwthreads formed on the extension, and made nearly orquite back to the shoulder, weaken it still more, so that in practice itis found that many skeins break'at this point. In-

stead of having such an extension in one piece with said skein, andliable to be broken off, as described, I employ a separate ferrule, B,which is screw-threaded, like such extention, on the outside, so as tobe adapted to receive an ordinary stop-nut, O, and which is fittedwithin the hollow outer end of said skein and welded to the insidethereof. The rear end of said ferrule is beveled at b, to allow theready insertion of the end of the axle-journal, and extends far enoughback to operate as an internal re-enforce or brace to said skein. Th usthe screw-threaded extension, instead of being a source of weakness,becomes a strengthening device.

I am aware that in one of Schreyers patents above mentioned a solid plugis used, introduced somewhat like my ferrule into the end of the skeinand externally screw-threaded to receive a nut; but my device is adecided improvement upon this. A solid plug excludes the air, and thuscauses the danger of dryrot in the wood of the axle, whereas myinvention allows the said wood to extend through the ferrule to theouter air, which will pass readily through its fibers and preventinjury. A solid plug is also unnecessarily heavy. Moreover, a hollowferrule like mine allows ready inspection of the end of the axlejournal,promoting ease and accuracy in fitting. The wood of the axle also bracesthe skein and its extension or ferrule through to its very point.

Besides the advantages over the ordinary skein already enumerated, I canuse a ferrule of diameter much smaller than the screwthreaded part ofthe sleeve or skein generally employed, and this allows me to use alighter and stronger nut.

The ferrule is made of iron or some other metal softer than thepartly-tempered steel of the skein proper, and this facilitates thecutting of screw-threads upon it.

My invention combines the advantages of both the other constructionsmentioned-the ordinary skein with extension formed by partly cutting itaway near the outer end, and the Schreyer skein with a solid plug in theend.

My invention also avoids the objections to both the above forms ofskein.

I am aware that the said Schreyer has obtained a patent for anaxle-skein which shows a hollow ferrule with internal screw-threads; butsuch is obviously unsuited for use with nuts of ordinary construction,and entails unnecessary expense and trouble in the cutting of theinternal screw-threads and the construction of the stop-nut or buttonwith screwthreaded shank.

Having thus fully desoribedEt-he said invention, WhatI claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with skein A, ending at a, hollow externallyscrew-threaded ferrule B, Welded within the end of said skein to act asa re'enforce, and permitting the access of the outer air to the end ofthe wagon-axle journal, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. POLAND.

XVitnesses:

W. H. FOSTER, TuEo. L. GRIFFIN.

